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Saturday, September 20, 2014

Breaking Down Barriers: Mechanical

I have posted a couple “asks” on Wheelwomen Switchboard
based on the topic of men and women and how we are different (and similar.)
When it comes to mechanical skills or bike riding, all of us learn differently
and also have the standard “You’re such a” thrown at us periodically. It’s
mentioned often that men and women seem to “learn differently.” This may be
said by both men and women, so I wanted to delve deeper into this topic.

The first subject will be about mechanical work. Mechanically
I am insecure (completely new skill)
and I need repetition for I learn best with a lot of repetition.
Directions of screws and such make my brain hurt, particularly when on opposing
sides. I feel really slow at “getting it.”

Below are responses from several women, their thoughts/input
and how they have dealt with this “divider."

Kelley W. "Here in Wash DC we are very fortunate to have shops with women mechanics, shops
with women owners, and most important, an amazing woman-only biking community
through FB where women can just vent, ask questions, whatever. I’m also
involved with the Maker movement, and through both of these outlets I’ve gotten
to know women who are really good at the mechanical stuff. I find it is
definitely easier and less intimidating to ask them a question than a man. I
don’t think men intend to be controlling, it’s often their wiring!

We have a Facebook Group: WABA Women & Bicycles. We have
women from all over joining – just to have a SAFE place to talk. We didn’t know
how many were out there until we started talking, so you might have women
around you that you don’t even know are cyclists, or even want to be but don’t
know how to get started."

Rachael R. "For mechanical stuff, I find I learn best by doing research myself (alone) on
the computer and check out videos and how to articles. Hubby is a mechanic and
is happy to explain things, but I get frustrated quickly so it’s best if I take
ego out of it and do it myself. Then I’m proud to show him how I learned
something new and did it without him. (sort of sad when I write it out… but
true!)

My lack of tech-savvy was certainly my fault for many years - I relied on my
husband to do all my maintenance and repairs. Looking back, I was just being
lazy. Now I work in the cycling industry and I’m trying to play catch up and
learn the skills I should know as a rider w/ 5 bikes and 10 years under my
belt. I feel especially as a woman in the industry that I need to be self
sufficient and show that women can do these things!

When I first started cycling and didn’t know how to change a
flat or change my pedals, etc. I was more hesitant to go out on my own –
whether around town running errands or on a Sunday morning road ride. Learning
how to be self sufficient on the bike really gives you a sense of freedom.

I think my biggest ‘ah ha’ moment was learning, and finally
remembering how to change pedals. It was something that I struggled to remember
for years, and each time would struggle to figure out the mechanical advantage.
I would to go the park tool website each time to double check. When I finally
remembered I felt really proud that I could remove & install pedals in 2
minutes flat, and without any struggling or frustration!"

Lisa E. "I learned by fixing the first bike I
got, which was a super crappy craigslist thing. I picked it up from internet
videos and generally just taking things apart. I don’t experience much of a
male/female divide, mostly because 1) I’m an engineer, so I’m the one who ends
up fixing my husband’s bike just because I have the mechanical aptitude and 2)
I only bike for transportation, not really fun or racing, so I don’t run into a
whole lot of “bike culture” type
things."

Tracy H. "I share your frustration with all things mechanical. For a lot of women, I
think it comes down to not having any exposure to tools and mechanical stuff as
kids. Boys take shop class, hang out with their dads in the garage, etc. (I
know I’m making a sweeping generalization here, not true for all women OR men)
and have that familiarity from the start.

I get frustrated and flustered when taking mechanics
classes. The guys kind of take over if it’s a mixed class; either way, it takes
me a LONG time to get something. I have to do it over and over and I get
nervous in a classroom/demo setting when everyone else has completed the task
and I’m still staring at it and breaking out in a sweat because I can’t figure
it out. Thus I prefer to work alone or in a one-on-one situation. And I have
found myself in the “use it or lose it”
situation several times, which is why I’ve taken several Bike Mechanics
101-type classes with no appreciable improvement in my skills. :)

I don’t know if it’s a male/female difference or just a “me” thing, but I am tentative with
tools. I’m afraid to break things and also lack the curiosity/confidence to
take something apart just to do it. Most guys I’ve met will tear into something
with no care as to whether they can get it back together again. That’s the best
way to learn but that makes me so uncomfortable! Plus, I hate getting partway
through a project or repair and then find myself stuck for whatever reason and
then have to sheepishly take it into the shop."

Kristin E. "As far as learning mechanical things, I’ve always learned from my dad and so
that’s never been an issue for me. I don’t really care who I learn from so as
long as I have a good teacher."

Jan B. "With mechanics, I’ve learned best by
jumping right in, even if I don’t know what I’m doing, and asking for help in
the middle of a project. Sadly, I’ve found that asking about projects at the
start can lead to a “Why are you
attempting that, that’s way too complicated” reaction from more experienced
mechanics, whereas showing up and saying “I
just laced this wheel, can you teach me how to true it” leads to an “Awesome you built a wheel, let me help”
reaction. At the beginning stages of projects, internet resources (particularly
youtube videos and Sheldon Brown’s website) were super helpful with getting me
started.

Also, I second other commenter’s on practicing on old, cheap
bikes. Most skills I’ve learned have come from working on my 35 year old yard
sale Schwinn, or on donated bikes at a local bike repair nonprofit. It’s a lot
less scary learning how to take apart a hub or a bottom bracket when it’s on a
bike you can afford to replace if you really mess something up! I also have a
newer cross bike, and while I would have been terrified to mess it up doing
major repairs a few years ago, the work I’ve done on older bikes has given me
the confidence to work on my nice bike."